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Youkai: Difference between revisions
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{{Useful Notes}}
Youkai are a widely-varied collection of various supernatural creatures that pop up in [[Shinto]] religion. They have a lot in common with [[The Fair Folk]] from Western folklore. Some youkai are good, others are evil, and many are [[Blue and Orange Morality|different]]. Some are mischievous, others avoid humans entirely. Shinto is an animist religion, and youkai are often associated with natural features such as forests and mountains. This word is often translated as "demon" in Western translations, but that does not adequately describe the creatures in question. The closest true Western equivalent is probably that of the ancient Roman [[wikipedia:Genius (mythology)|genii]] or [[Our Spirits Are Different|spirits]].
Supernatural creatures drawn from Western sources often turn out to seem more like youkai in Japanese works.<ref>Fun fact -- the Japanese word for vampire contains the character for oni.</ref> For instance, vampires. In the West you've got Nosferatu—a grotesque, undead monster who burns in sunlight and murders to preserve his hideous unlife.<ref>Notably, this may be used to refer both to the classic film character and to one of the clans in ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]'', which features other kinds of vampires, with the same powers and weaknesses, but characteristics that set them apart into clans</ref> In Japan you've got [[Cute Monster Girl|exceptionally cute]] [[Fan Service]] protagonist [[Rosario + Vampire|Moka Akashiya]], who is not undead, harbors no ill-will towards the sun, and drinks tiny amounts of blood that leave her "victim" light-headed at worst, but who has a [[Super-Powered Evil Side]] who can (and will if you look at her the wrong way) kick your ass thoroughly.
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The list presented below is by no means complete. Many types of Youkai are exceedingly rare to find in modern media and so are not included. On the other hand, '''[[Kitsune]]''', '''[[Kappa]]''' and '''[[Tanuki]]''' have garnered enough examples to warrant their own pages.
== Nekomata ==
A seemingly ordinary cat that develops magical nature through long life. It looks like an ordinary house cat, except for the tail, which splits into two at half-length. While much smarter than it used to be, a nekomata remains just as whimsical, which may be dangerous with its new found powers of illusion and [[Necromancy]]. It's said a cat will become a nekomata after turning 100 years old, where upon its tail splits, it starts using human speech, some how gains [[Voluntary Shapeshifting|transformation]] powers, a greater intelligence, and other [[Screw the Rules, I Have Supernatural Powers|odd abilities]]. The name is often used and confused for [[catgirl]]s. May be a [[Mega Neko]].
=== Examples ===
* The two-tailed demon-beast in ''[[Naruto]]'' is a two-tailed cat.
* Espeon in ''[[Pokémon]]'' is based off of this legend.
* Chen and Orin from the ''[[Touhou Project]]''
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* ''[[Nekogami Yaoyorozu]]'': Mayu and Sasana as well as their family are [[Catgirl|cat]] gods.
==Tsukumogami==
[[Animate Inanimate Object|inanimate objects]] that come to life after a hundred years. These can range from weapons to clothes to umbrellas (''karakasa''). Strangely, they avoid electrical energy in common folklore from the 1940's and it is said that no modern object could ever become a Tsukogami.
=== Examples ===
* In ''[[Love Hina]]'', there is the ''Tsukumogami'' called "Moe", a near life-sized doll/puppet who comes to life about halfway through the series, disappears after spending some time with Keitaro, and reappears in the sequel [[OVA]] ''Love Hina Again''.
* ''[[Asagiri no Miko]]'' has two ''Tsukumogami'' among its characters.
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* ''[[Rosario Plus Vampire]]'': Kozo from the Fan Club Coalition.
==Oni==
These are mountain spirits that share some things in common with trolls and ogres. The word is almost always translated into English as "demons" or "ogres." They are sometimes depicted as [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|good or bad]], but are usually morally neutral and interested in their own affairs. They prefer huge bludgeoning weapons and hide loincloths. Sometimes blamed for streaks of misfortune. Others work jobs in [[Fire and Brimstone Hell]]. [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|Know the different kinds!]]
=== Examples ===
* A few side characters (The Ogre Triad, the winner of the final tournament, etc.), and probably Jin and Shishiwakamaru, of ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]''.
* A few appear in ''[[Ushio and Tora]]''.
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* ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' has not only the basic Oni footsoldier, but even several of the more powerful named Oni, such as Ongyo-Ki and his gang.
==Yuki-onna==
Literally meaning "snow woman", Yuki-onna appear as beautiful women in snowy, cold, or mountainous regions. Some incarnations sleep with lone travelers to steal valuable body warmth, others will simply make them get lost during their travels to freeze to death, yet others will kill travelers by tricking them into touching them or a baby they hold in their hands. More benevolent Yuki-onna will either lead the victims to safety or leave them alone; the more wicked ones will lead them astray to begin with and use them.
=== Examples ===
* Mizore from ''[[Rosario Plus Vampire]]''.
* Letty Whiterock from the ''[[Touhou Project]]''
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* Yuki Jyorou from ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]''.
==Tengu==
Mountain-dwelling crow spirits whose human forms originally had beaks, but have become [[Gag Nose|phallically large noses]]. Long-nosed Tengu are red-skinned and humanoid, Karasu Tengu are anthropomorphic crows. May be cited as the origins of obscure martial arts training, particularly with ninjas. Other common features include long white hair, wooden sandals, and carrying large fans or parasols.
=== Examples ===
* Setsuna from ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' is half "bird tribe". They never say the name, but they have encountered a full Bird Tribe Demon and it resembles the classical ''tengu''.
* Aya Shameimaru and Hatate Himekaidou from ''[[Touhou Project]]''. Momizi Inubashiri is also listed as a tengu, but she is of the white wolf variety instead of a crow. It could be that she is a [http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Tiangou Tiangou], a dog-like creature from Chinese mythology that's related to the Japanese tengu.
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* ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'', like the oni example above, has several types of Tengu running around: from tiny annoyances (Koppa Tengu), to evil corruptive spirits (Karasu Tengu) to competent, powerful warriors (Kurama Tengu), each modelled after a different branch of Tengu.
==Baku==
A relatively benign example, being a tapir-like monster that [[Dream Stealer|eats bad dreams]].
=== Examples ===
* The second ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]'' movie and the chapter/episode it was loosely adapted from feature a baku.
* ''[[Nightmare Inspector]]'' has a baku for a main character, who helps rid people of their nightmares in return for being allowed to eat said nightmares.
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* The [[Final Boss]] of ''[[Parodius]]'' for the [[MSX]] is a baku named Bug (a [[Punny Name]] that works better in Japanese).
==Kamaitachi==
Weasel-like creatures that attack in trios: the first one knocks down a traveler with a gust of wind, the second cuts the traveler with its sickle-like claws, and the third applies an ointment that stops the bleeding, leaving the victim with bloodless but inexplicably large and painful wounds.
=== Examples ===
* ''[[Naruto]]'': Temari a special technique that involves summoning a kamaitachi. She is the [[Blow You Away|wind user]], while the Kamaitachi does the cutting. The only time it was used, the opponent was too dead to notice if the bleeding had stopped.
* One of the Geomancer skills in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' is a wind attack called Kamaitachi that can trigger the Paralyze (i.e. Don't Act) Status Ailment.
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* The third player character in ''[[The Ninja Warriors Again]]''.
==Tsuchinoko==
A snake-like creature with a long, wide body. It is mostly harmless to most people, unless awoken from its sleep as its venom can fell a man instantly.
=== Examples ===
* You can catch a tsuchinoko if you're lucky in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]''. [[Fridge Logic|Which is odd]], since it takes place in Russia. The team congratulates you when you do and you get an achievement (in the [[Updated Rerelease|HD remake]]).
* The [[Pokémon]] Dunsparce is a tsuchinoko.
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* In ''[[Touhou]]'' canon, specifically ''Strange and Bright Nature Deity'', Marisa adopted a rather cute tsuchinoko as a pet after chasing it out of a fairy's house.
==Nurikabe==
A monster that takes the form of an animate section of wall. It has the power to turn invisible, and likes to use this power to impede travelers.
=== Examples ===
* During one of the [[School Festival]] episodes of ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]'', as the girls ponder Osaka's idea of an ''obakeyashiki kisaten'' ("haunted cafe"), they imagine Chiyo dressed as a nurikabe.
* In ''[[Okami]]'', there’s a family of nurikabe that go by the name "Blockhead." They claim to be "the only one", though.
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* One appears in episode 2 of ''[[Inu X Boku SS]]''
==Rokurokubi and Nukekubi==
These two creatures are [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?|Humanoid]] monsters, the Rokurokubi are human by day but have extremely elastic necks during the night, while nukekubi can detach their heads from their necks and float away in search of human flesh.
=== Examples ===
* One ''[[Hellboy (comics)|Hellboy]]'' story has him accidentally running across a household of ''Nukekubi''. Needless to say, he hits them and pokes fun at them. The story was imported word-for-word into the OVA ''Hellboy: Sword of Storms''.
** ''Sword of Storms'' also has female Rokurokubi show up later as well.
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* Kubinashi from ''[[Nurarihyon no Mago]]'' is a nukekubi.
==Tsuchigumo and Jorogumo==
These [[Giant Spider|spiders are monstrous in size]] (as big or bigger than a man) that can take human form to seduce travelers. Jorogumo uses a lure to attract travelers to feed her offspring, she often has the power to allure men with a song. Others act as a [[Shapeshifting Lover]]. Tsuchigumo can also use illusions to keep his webs hidden and make people ill in order to feed on them.
=== Examples ===
* The Ero-Game ''[[Atlach=Nacha]]'' has a Jorogumo attempting to blend in with human society. She doesn't do very well with men, but meets a [[Schoolgirl Lesbians|very nice girl...]]
* Yamame Kurodani from ''[[Touhou Project]]'' is a Tsuchigumo.
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* One of the mooks in ''[[The Ninja Warriors]]'' is named after the creature.
==Raiju==
The [[Shock and Awe|"Thunder Beast"]] is a lightning in a weasel-like shape: it's usually represented with many tails and/or legs, poisonous claws, and bright yellow and black fur. Can also appears as a dog, a monkey, a tanuki, a fox, or even a ball of fire and lightning.
=== Examples ===
* Raikou in ''[[Pokémon]]''.
* The [[Inuyasha|Raiju Brothers]] [[Psycho Electro|Hiten]] and [[Fat Bastard|Manten]]. They're both humanoid (with Hiten being totally human-like while Manten has a monstrous head) and they [[Villainous Valor|do care for each other]]. The anime filler also introduces their little sister [[Cute Bruiser|Soten]].
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* Raiju appear frequently in ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' games.
==Wanyuudou==
A burning wheel, frequently with a man's face serving as the hubcaps.
=== Examples ===
* In ''[[Muramasa: The Demon Blade]]'', Wanyudo is Momohime's second boss.
* ''[[Okami]]'' features fire, ice and electric wheels each with a different sensory organ on them, an eye, lips and an ear respectively.
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* Soultaker, the boss of Yokai Isle's Bamboo Forest in ''[[Adventure Quest Worlds]]'', is a wanyuudou.
==Inugami and Okami==
Dog and Wolf Youkai.
=== Examples ===
* Inuyasha of ''[[Inuyasha]]'' is a half dog-youkai Inu Yasha's father, stepmother, and half - brother Sesshoumaru are full Inugami.
** ''[[Inuyasha]]'' also has a tribe of wolf youkai under the leadership of Kouga.
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* Inugami appear in ''[[Shin Megami Tensei]]'' games. Sometimes they can even grow into Makami, their more powerful counterparts.
==Ushi Oni==
Also called "Kyuuki". Means Bull Fiend, and is a sort of counterpart to the Western Minotaur. In some stories it's a demonic looking ox with many tails and claws, in others he's a sort of giant spider, while in others is a sort of wisp fire.
=== Examples ===
* The Eight-Tailed Beast in ''[[Naruto]]'' is a giant bull-like demon with four horns and eight [[Combat Tentacles]] in lieu of tails.
* [[Filler Villain|Gyuu Oh]] from ''[[Inuyasha]]'' is a half-demon called Izumo who turns into a wicked minotaur-like monster after the sunset. As a result he's gone crazy, but unlike the typical stereotype he's a [[Genius Bruiser]].
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* Gyuki from ''[[Nurarihyon no Mago]]'' is implied to be a Ushi Oni. Heck, his name is the alternate character reading of Ushi Oni.
{{examples|Works that feature youkai include:}}
* ''[[Amatsuki]]'' features many various different kinds of youkai, known here as "ayakashi", including spirits, and ghosts. In fact, about half the main cast are ayakashi.
* ''Demon's World'', an obscure arcade game also known as ''Horror Story'', features many enemies from various mythologies, and in the Japan-esque stage you get to fight kappa, karakasa, rokurokubi, and other youkai.
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* ''[[Gantz]]'' features every youkai ever as aliens in the Osaka arc.
* ''[[GeGeGe no Kitaro]]'' is all about youkai. Kitaro himself is a youkai.
* ''[[Gurumin: A
* ''[[Hakaba Kitaro]]''
* ''[[Hell Girl]]'' also features a Hone-onna, or "Bone Woman". A type of vampiric creature which disguises itself as a beautiful mortal woman to lure men away to feed upon their life force.
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* ''[[Kanon]]'': {{spoiler|Makoto is a kitsune who lost her memory in exchange for the ability to transform. It came with a hefty price.}}
* ''[[Karas]]'' (which itself is named for the Karasu Tengu) has youkai in a prominent role, and it depicts tensions between the youkai and the humans who have forgotten them.
* ''[[Kekkaishi]]'' has Madarao, a white dog youkai that has served the Sumimura family since its founding, passed down to them by the founder, Tokimori Hazama. Madarao is able to detect ayakashi with his amazing sense of smell.
* ''[[KiKi KaiKai]]'', a series of [[Cute'Em Up]] games also known as ''Pocky & Rocky'', includes several kinds of ''obake'' as enemies. (Also, the main player character is a [[Miko]].)
* ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' (''Kamigawa'' block, which was heavily inspired by Japanese mythology)
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* ''[[Naruto]]'', which features several youkai-themed demon-beasts. The first [[Big Bad]] Orochimaru is also shown to be capable of stretching his neck out to great lengths, not unlike a rokurokubi.
* ''[[Natsume Yuujinchou]]''
* In ''[[Neko-de Gomen!|Neko De Gomen]]'', [[Mad Scientist|Kuroda]] makes a serum that turns people into youkai that fits them best for ten hours.
* ''[[Ninja Sentai Kakuranger]]'': The enemies are ''all'' Youkai.
** What makes this a particularly amusing example is that nearly all of the youkai have adapted in some way to the modern world. For example, there's a Nurikabe covered in graffiti, a Sand Woman dressed like a hooker, a chariot youkai who's now a taxicab and a gluttony spirit dressed like a fast-food jockey.
* ''[[Nurarihyon no Mago]]'' is based on a mafia-like family of Youkai that live in the present era, in an ordinary city, keeping it safe from other families/groups seeking power.
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* ''[[Saiyuki]]'', in which three out of the four main characters are at least part youkai, as are most of their opponents. Unfortunately, the majority are generic 'demons' - i.e., pointy-eared humanoids with claws - rather than Japanese folkloric Youkai.
* ''[[Samurai Sentai Shinkenger]]'': The enemies are based on Youkai, but not really the Youkai themselves. According to [[Word of God]], they serve as the base of Youkai inspiration.
* ''[[Sengoku Youko]]'' is rife with these, given that the series is set in feudal Japan and one of the main characters feature a [[Kitsune]].
* ''[[Shaman King]]''
* ''[[Shanghai Youma Kikai]]''
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* ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]''
* The ''Obake Karuta'', a set of cards with Yokai themes which were used in the Edo Period. An ancestor of the modern [[Pokémon]] and [[Yu-Gi-Oh!]] card games.
{{reflist}}
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